Where's a security monkey when you need one?

"(We have)...recently learned that an employee took home electronic data from the VA, which he was not authorized to do...

I, along with "up to" 26.5 million veterans and some spouses, had their personal data "taken home" by an employee.

An then, darn it, you know what happened? "The employee's home was burglarized and this data was stolen."

What are the chances? Lucky the burglar didn't break into the house of the guy that works at the Quickie Mart, he would have only gotten a dozen or so people's data.

At first I was amazed that the VA finds all of this coincidental, then I wondered how they found me after 15 years. Turns out the IRS tracked me down for them (though they promise the IRS didn't share my data with them, the IRS only forwarded the letter; hey, I can trust them, they're the government).

Fortunately, the VA apologizes for any inconvenience.

Chief, what the heck is going on these bozos???

And, more importantly, how worried should I and "up to" 26.5 million other people be?

4 Comments

Have you ever read '1984'? It is a book written in the 1930's by George Orwell. I am sure that your local library has a copy. You should check it out and read it. Privacy seems to be in short suply these days. If you are rich, famous, and pregnent you can go to Nabibia (tho I am not sure what sort of hospitals they have).
If you are poor, and working... you really do not have much of a choice.
my advice:
Marry a Kennedy
Don't let any drunken brothers/uncles/sons drive you over narrow bridges
If you are an atorney, do NOT take on Sadam as a client

refer to this post by the SecurityMonkey
http://blogs.ittoolbox.com/security/investigator/archives/va-laptop-giac-other-mail-10246
--doc0tis
PS, how often do you think this, or any, employee takes home a laptop full of data?

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